From Stein.Kulseth@TF.tele.no Tue Sep 14 11:26:13 1993 X400-Received: by mta runix.runit.sintef.no in /PRMD=uninett/ADMD= /C=no/; Relayed; Tue, 14 Sep 1993 11:25:50 +0200 X400-Received: by /PRMD=tele/ADMD=TELEMAX/C=NO/; Relayed; Tue, 14 Sep 1993 11:25:22 +0200 Date: Tue, 14 Sep 1993 11:25:22 +0200 X400-Originator: Stein.Kulseth@TF.tele.no X400-Recipients: non-disclosure:; X400-Mts-Identifier: [/PRMD=tele/ADMD=TELEMAX/C=NO/;730 93/09/14 11:25] X400-Content-Type: P2-1984 (2) From: Stein.Kulseth@TF.tele.no Message-Id: <"730 93/09/14 11:25*/G=Stein/S=Kulseth/O=TF/PRMD=tele/ADMD=TELEMAX/C=NO/"@MHS> To: alyxx@NADC.NAVY.mil, panditvx@ntmtv.com, rlinnema@jarthur.claremont.edu, dnicol@vax1.umkc.edu, spcabg1@cicero.spc.uchicago.edu, rchatham@math.utk.edu, dmb@fig.cray.com, oerjan@nvg.unit.no, karl@reed.edu, thomson@netcom.com, ecrocke@phoenix.Princeton.edu, mkkuhner@genetics.washington.edu, jrk@sys.uea.ac.uk, thedward@wixer.bga.com Subject: Round 11 ends! Status: OR So, even with the extra week of eligibility, I received no more rules, and we have thus learnt all we probably ever will know about this planet Velva. The last player to post a valid rule - the winner of round 11 - is: Oerjan Johansen (oerjan@nvg.unit.no) So the wig will be kept in Norway for round 12. Here is the final results for round 11, and the complete rules summary: oerjan 10 rchatham 5 jrk 3 dnicol -3 alyxx 4 andrew -1 Rule #1 (from alyxx) - VALID - Score: 1 All rules must set in place one feature (geographic, structural, or mandated) of the world to be created, to wit: This world will contain a mixture of plant and animal life. Rule #2 (from Oerjan) - VALID - Score: 2 Spraakregel: Alle regler heretter maa skrives paa engelsk. Det skal ikke vaere noen dinosaurer i verdenen. Rule #3 (from jrk) - VALID - Score: 1 The world has three continents. All subsequent rules must name at least one new feature of the world. The three continents are called Arafarlond, Isselhein, and Xullu-usanaku. Rule #4 (from rchatham) - INVALID - Score: 0 The world to be created shall have no predator species. Furthermore, future rules shall concern themselves only with aspects of the world to be created (i.e. rules cannot directly discuss future rules). Rule #5 (from Andrew Gross) - VALID - Score: 1 All living things on this world are unique, and no taxanomy or other classification scheme can validly be used to refer to the living inhabitants of this world (i.e. words like "species" and "race" have no meaning). The largest single inhabitant of the world is Groth, a giant fiberous being that cannot move, which exist by chemically converting sunlight into energy. Gronth is larger than the state of Texas Rule #6 (from jrk) - VALID - Score: 1 Although there are no predators, there are complex food chains based on parasitism and symbiosis rather than predation. The tropical forests of Kashanusha, in particular, display such an abundance of commingling life-forms that it is difficult even to say where one creature ends and another begins. Rule #7 (from rchatham) - VALID - Score: 1 The single ocean of the world, which we call Aqua-Velva, consists of some liquid other than water. We believe it's mostly liquid methane, but there's something else there that we cannot identify, yet. Rule #8 (from dnicol) - INVALID - Score: -2 In the skies above the world flies the Hoerig bird, whose loud call may be transliterated "Pung! Pung! Pung!" Rule #9 (from alyxx) - VALID - Score: 2 In addition to Parasitic/Symbiotic life-forms, there exists the Hna~g, which lives in Aqua-Velva. The Hna~g begins life as an immense creature...Perhaps as large as New Jersey or thereabouts. The birth process is unclear, because as life continues, the Hna~g becomes smaller and smaller, as it consumes itself (in violation of all natural laws as we know them), to provide the energy needed to drift through the Oceanic tides of Aqua-Velva. This much is clear, anyway, of the MALE Hna~g....no evidence has been seen of the female at all. Rule #10 (from Oerjan) - VALID - Score: 2 The desert continent of Xullu-usanaku is devoid of life, except for Xullu, a small poisonous creature. So poisonous, in fact, that it is the reason the continent is lifeless. This despite the fact that Xullu has lived its entire life basking in the sun on the top of the mountain Zertalich, at the center of the continent. This mountain is the hottest place in the world, and the temperature sometimes gets so high that even Carbon Dioxide starts to sublimate. The mountain consists of hard, stable water ice, so there is no danger of _it_ melting." Rule #11 (from dnicol) - INVALID - Score: -3 Gliding lazily through the mists of condensing carbon dioxide and snow high in the methanous stratosphere, absorbing light from the twin suns before it is diffused by lower and thicker clouds is the pungean, which exists distributed in many pung, much as a colony of Earth-ants is a single, distributed creature. The concentration of pung in any area of their range, which is only within twenty lattitude degrees of the planet's equator (The planet having an elipticalorbit around the twin suns and a rotational axis perpindicular to the plane of its orbit, in familiar Newtonian-Einsteinian-Hubblian space), varies in ways that have yet to be explained. The pungean is more concentrated over transitional surface features, also for reasons at this point unknown, although we at the institute are awaiting the arrival of new data from the latest probe. Rule #12 (from jrk) - VALID - Score: 2 Scarcely any human-visible light penetrates to the surface of the planet, but some bands of longer-wavelength radiation do. Those organisms capable of thought, introspection, and verbal communication usually distinguish six primary colours, only one of which is visible to humans. It lies at the reddest extremity of the human-visible spectrum, the remainder extending into the infra-red and down to the microwave region. That colour is named "tt-roc-h-era-ngl-ondond-qingoxtui-ww", in the language they use to communicate with the few human surveyors of the planet. The literal meaning of this complex word is as yet obscure to us. Rule #13 (from alyxx) - VALID - Score: 1 Isselhein has a pleasant climate (temparate, by the standards of the planet), which attracts a vast array of individual creatures, who co-mingle in a tribal configuration (This is separate from a special joining, these are individuals coming together voluntarily). One such creature is called the Nehrehtom. She (an arbitrary designation) takes charge of the gathering of foodstuffs and the sharing of space and of objects used in recreation. She is unimposing to look at, being only the size of the earth-bird known as a wren. Despite this, she has an imposing screech, which she uses to great effect. Rule #14 (from oerjan) - VALID - Score: 1 Groth, who lives in the eastern swamps of Arafarlond, is not just a creature, but also a vast city, containing within its hole-ridden body myriads of small and medium sized creatures. This is the most civilized place on the world; the creatures here are highly educated, and merchants travel to and from with all that the city needs. Delicious food, pretty clothes, anything can be bought in the great market cave, Umsatarathen. And for the inhabitants' comfort, in the evenings Groth itself uses to sing wonderful ballads of ancient heroes and beautiful creatures in distress. It's a great place to live, except for those who are afraid of slime or have sensitive ears. Rule #15 (from Andrew Gross) - INVALID - Score: -2 This is how most living things on the planet "reproduce", and why all creatures are unique: Scattered accross the planet are pools of "rain", containing a chemical composition unknown to us. If the proper genetic material from a living thing is submerged for a long enough period, it will begin to grow-- cloning the original creature. However, because of the radiation striking the planet, as well as the generally uncontrolled nature of this reproductive process, the resulting organism is seriously mutated from the original genetic template. Sometimes, the genetic material for more than one living thing at a time will fall into the same pool at the same time, and will combine together before mutating. Because of this ready-made system of propagation, "sex" as we know it never evolved on the planet. The wizened scholar Al-anin, who is said to be immortal, believes that Groth may be the original organism, and that all others spring from him; but other scholars disagree. Rule #16 (from dnicol) - VALID - Score: 2 Gliding lazily through the mists of condensing carbon dioxide and snow high in the methanous stratosphere, absorbing light from the twin suns before it is diffused by lower and thicker clouds is the pungean, which exists distributed in many pung, much as a colony of Earth-ants is a single, distributed creature. The concentration of pung in any area of their range, which is only within twenty lattitude degrees of the planet's equator (The planet having an elipticalorbit around the twin suns and a rotational axis seventy-five degrees from the plane of its orbit, in familiar Newtonian-Einsteinian-Hubblian space), varies in ways that have yet to be explained. The pungean is more concentrated over transitional surface features, also for reasons at this point unknown, although we at the institute are awaiting the arrival of new data from the latest probe. Rule #17 (from rchatham) - VALID - Score: 2 Most of the intelligent creatures of the world (which they call Velva) live on the continent Isselhein. There is no government on Velva (unless you count the government of the human visitors); indeed, the concept of law is beyond most Velvan imaginations. Therefore, creatures of Velva do not discuss rules, prohibitions, laws, mandates, or regulations. Out of respect for Velva and its inhabitants, neither shall we. Isselhein has a large river running through it. This river is called Mississippi's-Mama by human visitors, and Rik-tik-alla by some of the native Isselheinians. Rule #18 (from jrk) - VALID - Score: 1 The lifeforms of Velva habitually exchange with each other not only genetic information, but whole organs, to such an extent that one can hardly even speak of the "same" lifeform over a period of time. There are temporary gatherings of anatomical modules into apparently independently functioning units, but these assemblages continually split up and reform in new ways. This is why it has proved impossible to classify the lifeforms of the planet into different species. It may also account for absence of any sort of law among the Velvans, since with a few exceptions, such as Xullu, Groth, and the pungean, no sentient combination of parts persists as an unchanged individual for a prolonged period of time. This continuous exchanging of parts is called "Tianchun-su-ushtari-ia" in the language through which the Velvans communicate with humans. This may tentatively be translated as "thing [or: anatomical component] in-the-direction- of-(previously mentioned topic) equal-mixture-of-all-colours volume- without-shape"; this may or may not clarify things. Rule #19 (from oerjan) - VALID - Score: 2 NEWS BULLETIN The whole academic community of the human 7-star federation is grieving over the loss of the famous Sirian-a2 sociologist Lothar Jacovlev. His tragic death happened while he was researching the religious beliefs of the Velvans, the inhabitants of the planet Procyon-6. His death was entirely due to a disastrous misunderstanding: While he was talking with a sage on the Velvan island of Warloclash, the sage misunderstood his badly pronounced "Alli-tpo'ran wractla-esh penha urnachas." (So you believe the Gods created your world. Interesting.) as "Al'i-ptora~ wractlash pehan hurnaxaz." (Could you please bite a hole in my protection suit? It's too hot in here.) The sage deeply regrets the event, and sends its condolances to Jacovlev's family. Rule #20 (from jrk) - INVALID - Score: -2 Velva has three large moons. The resulting complexity of the four bodies' orbits causes irregular high and low tides. As a result, there are no exclusively land-dwelling organisms; all land-dwellers are amphibious. The Velvans give the three moons the same names as the three continents. Rule #21 (from rchatham) - VALID - Score: 1 Warloclash and Mageopax are the only two islands of Velva. Both islands are in the "tropical" zone of the planet. Both islands are popular tourist spots for those Velvans who are both mobile and civilized. Indeed, Mageopax is so much fun that even the _human_ visitors don't want to leave. (In fact, the last three groups of humans to go there have never returned......) Rule #22 (from Oerjan) - VALID - Score: 2 Religion Many Velvans are highly religious creatures. Here is their creation myth, as told by a certain sage and translated by one of late Dr. Jacovlev's team members: "In the beginning there were the Gods. And the Gods were bored, and they decided that they wanted to create a world, just for fun; and they created Velva. And Groth, the God of Wierdness and Variety, said: "Let there be on this world no two creatures alike; let all be different in important ways, so that they cannot be classified according to their biology." But Rojna, the God of Order and Equality, responded: "That is a truly stupid idea, and because you made such a stupid idea you shall yourself be placed on Velva as one of these monsters!" And Groth was terrified, and said: "You are truly an evil monster yourself, and I say: So will you. But unlike me, you will not even have the power to speak; you shall be a dumb creature, roaming the seas and constantly diminishing, until the day when you vanish completely." And so it was, and the other Gods said: "They are truly insane, and never shall we be so stupid as to do what they have done." And you all know who Groth is; but Rojna is the Hna~g, because he lost his power to speak and therefore even his name." As a result of this creation myth, there are two major religions on Velva. The Curma'leth-qaans, which means "those who have a good time" generally consider Groth to be the good one in the story, and they try to keep up the variety of the world by having great parties, magnificent art and music, and generally doing as they please. But they do not worship Groth, because Groth doesn't like that; It makes it embarrassed. The Un`c'-Ali-lemwa, which means "those who call themselves Ali" at any time only number a couple of thousand creatures on the northern Pelhency beaches of Isselhein; They fiercely worship Rojna by changing their name to Ali, wearing black uniforms, and having large military-looking parades. (Though since even these Velvans do not understand the concept of law and government, it is clear that they really do it because they think it is fun to pretend they are all equal.) The yearly Ecotbor-parade is generally visited by tens of thousands of tourists from all over Velva. Rule #23 (from rchatham) - VALID - Score: 1 The OOOlah is a cute creature. It lives at the foot of Hibijibi, the largest mountain of Mageopax and is as large as a (Earth, but non-American) football field. The OOOlah has the ability to stimulate any desired part of another creature's nervous system (if, of course, the recipient creature _has_ a nervous system and is within three kilometers of the OOOlah). Not surprisingly, the OOOlah is constantly surrounded by VERY happy creatures who are constantly doing things for the OOOlah (feeding, fanning, disposing of wastes, etc.). Most civilized Velvans stay out of OOOlah's range. Fortunately, Mageopax is large enough to have other, less --uh-- addictive attractions. Rule #24 (from oerjan) - VALID - Score: 1 On the surface of Aqua-Velva, which goes by the name of C'oehsia, there are a lot of creatures running around, minding their business. It is believed, both from stories told by Velvans, and from scientific examination of these creatures' extremities, that their power to walk on liquid stems from their all having received feet once belonging to an ancient, long since dismembered creature, the first to have this ability according to Velvan legends. The creature was called "B'ttoni-B'ttoni-B'ttoni-B'ttoni-"(etc.) which means "Foot-Foot-Foot-Foot-"(etc.) The name is rarely pronounced in full. The human scientists appropriately call this ex-creature the 'Millioniped'. ### That's all, folks! -- stein.kulseth@tf.tele.no [X.400] stein.kulseth@nta.no [internet] 'When murders are committed by mathematics, they can be solved by mathematics. Most of them aren't, and this one wasn't' - Nick Charles (Dashiell Hammett's "The Thin Man")